Interlock dual operator assembly



1968 E. F. MEKELBURG ET AL. 3,3

INTERLOCK DUAL OPERATOR ASSEMBLY 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1965 United States Patent O INIERLOCK DUAL OPERATOR ASSEMBLY Earl F. Mekelburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., and Howard P.

Stock, Bellevue;Wash., assignors to Square D Company, Park Ridge, HL, 3 corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 514,452 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-503) This invention relates to a dual operator assembly for push button switches, and particularly to a dual operator having between its ends a cylindrical base portion which is adapted to be received through, and accommodated in, a circular opening in a panel and secured to the panel in a conventional manner.

The present operator employs a plurality of push button actuators movable endwise relative to each other in parallel paths and arranged in a side by side relation, and a divider therebetween extending endwise parallel to said paths, the endwise exposed faces of the actuators and divider being such so as to present a substantially circular pattern coaxial with the cylindrical portion of the body of the operator.

The divider extends endwise of the paths outwardly beyond the base a distance such as to obstruct movement of a finger of a person in a direction of depression of the actuators when the finger is in engagement with both actuators concurrently.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a dual operator as above described wherein the push buttons are mechanically interlocked to assure that when either actuator is moved to a depressed position the other is concurrently moved to an extended position.

Specific advantages reside in the positioning and shape of the actuators and divider and the interlockng means for the actuators.

Various other objects and advantages Will become apparent from the following description whereu reference is made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the operator embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical, axial sectional view of the operator, taken on the line 22 in FIG. 1, part thereof being shown in elevation for clearance in illustration;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the operator illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an insulating and cushioning pad shown thereon in FIG. 2 being omitted for clearness in illustration;

FIG. 4 is a vertical, axial sectional view of the operator, taken on the line 44 in FIG. 1, part thereof being shown in elevation for clearness in illustration; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the supporting base of the operator.

Referring to the drawings, the operator, indicated generally at 1, comprises a metal base 2 with an enlarged diameter annular bottom portion 3 and a coaxial, externally threaded upper cylindrical sleeve portion 4. The bottom portion 3 is provided with depending internally threaded lugs 5, spaced circumferentially about the axis thereof, for connecting the base to push button sWitches to be operated by the operator. The upper cylindrical sleeve portion 4 has an internal passage 6 of circular cross-section coaxial with the external surface of the cylindn'cal pontion 4, but interrupted along a diametral plane by an upright divider 7. The divider 7 divides the passage 6 into two diametrically opposite parallel passages 6a, respectively, the passages 6a each thus being in the form of circular segments closely spaced with respect to each other and separated by the divider 7. The enter peripheral wall portion of each passage 6a is coaxial with the cylindrical portion of the base. The remainder of the peripheral wall portion of each passage 6a is on the divider and preferably is concave toward the outer peripheral wall portion.

The base is provided with a partition wall 9, normal to the axis of the cylindrical portion. The wall 9 has two parallel bores 10 arranged one at each side of the divider 7, and each with its axis parallel to the axis of the passage 6. Each bore 10 is generally centered with respect to its associated passage 6a.

The bores 10 are of such size that a portion of the wall 9 surrounding their upper ends provides a seating surface for a spring retainer, as will later be described.

The bores 10 are in communication at their upper ends with the passages 6a, respectively, and at their lower ends with smaller diameter bores 11 coaxial with the bores 10, respectively. The bores 11 open into the portion of the annular passage of the base in the bottom portion 3 of the base.

The upper portion of the base 2 is threaded, as indicated at 12, and receives a threaded ring nut 13, and the bottom portion has a shoulder 14 facing toward the ring nut, the ring nut and shoulder being operable to secure the base fixedly in position on a panel P when the ylindrical portion 4 of the base extends through a circular opening in the panel. Suitable gaskets 15 are provided between the rear face of the panel P and the shoulder 14 to accommodate various thicknesses of panel P and to exclude oil seepage from outside of panel P to inside of the enclosure and panel P.

Mounted in the base for axial movement parallel with the axis of the base in closely adjacent parallel paths are a pair of duplicate actuators 16, each having an enlarged head portion which in plan, viewed normal to its axis, is approximately the same shape as one of the passages 6a, allowance being made for operating clearance between the peripheral walls of the head of the actuator, Each actuator has a stem 17 which preferably is integral with the head and is received and associated in one of the bores 11 and fits the same with operating clearance. Each head also has a depending flange 18 spaced outwardly from the stem and extending around the outer periphery of the head.

Each actuator is guided for axial movement by engagement of its stem with the associated bore 11 and engagement et the peripheral flange 18 with the wall of the associated passage 6a. Each stem is connected at its lower end in snap fastening engagement with locking ring 19, adapted for connecting the stem Wih an interlock 20 which interlocks the two actuators so that when either is depressed the other one is thereby moved to extended position.

The interlock comprises generally a metal supporting plate 21 which is received on the bottom of the lower end of the base 2 and is secured thereto by suitable screws 22. The plate 21 is of such thickness that the bosses or lugs 5 of the base 2 extend therethrough and for a distance therebeyond. The plate 21 is generally annular in 'form and has a pair of laterally spaced, laterally aligned supporting portions each of which carries an annular pivot 23, the pivots being coaxial with each other. The interlock 20 also includes a pair of duplicate rocker arms 24, each of which has a central opening 25 in which is received one of the pivots 23 for supporting the associated arm for rocking about a horizontal axis lying in the plane of the divider 7 and in a plane at right angles. to the axis of the passage 6 of the base.

If desired, the plate 21 may be omitted and the pivots 23 press fitted into suitable aligned bores formed directly in the bottom portion 3 of the base 2.

For interconnecting the rocker arms 24 with the lock ing rings 19, each rocker arm is provided at its ends with parallel, laterally extending fingers 26, which preferably are cylindrical. Each of the locking rings 19 is provided at its opposite edges with slots 27, the slots of each lock ing ring being parallel with each other and extending endwise of the arms 24.

- As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the rocker arms 24 are arranged one at each side of the lockingrings 19 and are disposed with the fingers 26 in the slots 27 of the associated ends of the rings 19 for sliding movement therealong and rocking movenient relative thereto. 'By means of the lockiag rings 19 and arms 24, the actuators are interlocked sothat depresson of one causes extension of the other.

It is desired that the actuators be urged into a final position in the direction in which =being operated by pushing either one of the actuators after the interlock has passed a dead center position. For this purpose, each arm 24 is provided With a projection 28 having upwardly converging operating cm walls 29 merging into a peak directly above the axis of its passage '25.

The Wall 9 of the base 2 is provided With downwardly open bores 30 accommodating hall detents 31 Which are urgd downwardly by springs 32, respectively. One detent is provided for each -arm 24. The bores 30 are arranged With their axes in a common vertical plane through the axis of the pivots 23. It is apparent from the dr wings that deten'ts 31 cooperate vvith the surfaces 29 of the rocket arms 24 for yieldably urging the rocker arms in the direction in which they are being rocked by depressin 0f either actuato'r until the line of force of the halls on the surfaces 29 is on the same side of the axis of the pivots 23 as the actuator 'is being depressd. Thereupon, the halls urge the rocker arms further in the same direction to final position, pulling down the depressed actuator and yieldablyrging the other actuator to its extended position.

Generally, it is desirable that each actuator be yieldably urged to its extended position. For this purpose, spring supports 35 in the form of an annular washer are provided. Each washer embraces the stem 17 with operating clearance and has lower portion Which is seated on the wall 9 surrouriding the associated passage 11. Each washer also has a reidced upper smaller diameter portion which is receivable in a coil spring 36 for holding the lower end of the spring in centered relation. The upper end of the spring 36 passes within the flange 18 of the actuator and engages th underside of the head.

As inenfioned, the wall 9 has larger bores 10 coaxial with the bores 11, and thereby defining shoulders 37 between the loWer ends of the bores 10 and the upper ends of the bores 1l". Between the annuler spring support 35 and the shoulders 37 annular sealing ga skets 38 are provided.

It is desirable that the actuators be provided With in:

dicia for distinguishing the associated switches. For this purpose the actuators are provided With inserts 39, each having a hall portion 39a Which snaps into suitable socket 40, in the actuator for holding the associated insert firml seate d in an open cavity in the outer end of the actuator.

' Generally it is desirable that, when switches are mount e d on the base 2, that a suitable insulating cap -be provided. Slich an insulating cap 42 is shown in FIG. 2 and is mounted on the bottom of the base 2, this cap preferably being of nylon or other resilient electrical insulating material. It is arranged with suitable sockets 43 for receiving the lugs on the bottom of the base, and, in turn, is pro vided with 'suitable lugs 44 having passages in coaxial with those of the .lugs 5 through which screws may be received for connecting the base 2 with switehes to be operated.

It is apparent from the foregong description that the dual operator is one which can readily be manufactured and assembled and used to operate various types of push button switches when the switches are connected to the bottom of the base with their push buttons positioned to be engaged and depressed by the locking rings 19, respectivel. The actuator can be installed readily in a circular panel openifig and presents, at its outer end, a plurality of push buttons and a safet y divider therebetween 4 so configured and arranged as to end.

Having thus described 0111 invention, we claim:

1. A dual function push button operator comprising:

a base adapted to be secured to a panel and to a push button operable switch means to be operated by the operator and having a forward endj a pair of push button actuators mounted in the base in laterally spaced relation to each other for lineal movement endwise in closely adjacent parallel paths, each to a forward extended position and to a rearward depressed position, and each having a forwrd end surface adapted to be engaged by the finger of a person for depressim thereby;

a rigid divider carried by the base and extending generally parallel to said paths and disposed in the space between said actators With its forward end disposed forwardly from the base closely adjacent the position assumed by the forward ends of the actuators When the ctuators are in their extended positions, respectively, thereby to prevent accidentel application of depressing force on both actuators concur'rently by a single finger of a person, said base having acylindrial portion with its axis parallel to said paths and adapted to be accommodated in a circular passage through a panel when the base is secure d to the panel, said portion having two passages which are parallel to the axis of the cylindrical portion and which are separated by the divider;

a first portion of the peripheral wa ll of each passage being on the divider and extending ge nerally transversely of the base, the remaindr of the peripheral Wall of each passage being coaxial with said cylindrical portion, whereby, when viewed endwise, in the depressing direction of the actuators, the out er ends of the actuators, combined With the divider, present a circular Ondine coaxial With said cylindrical portion. r

2. A structure according to claim 1 wheren the wall portion of each passage defined by the divider is curvilinear about an axis parallel to the axis, of said cylindric al portion, and is concave radially. outwardly of said cylindrical portion.

3. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said first portions, are cu rViliriear and of equal radius 7 and concave outwardly laterally of the base about present a circular outer coplanar parallel axes, respectivoly, spaced outvvard-,

ly laterally of the divider base for the extending parallel to said paths;

said remaining portions are curvilinear and of equal radius and. concave inwardly of the base about a commonaxis extending parallel to said paths and the forward portionsbf the actuators fit said walls of the passages, res pective ly, with operating clearance.

divider, and

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,868 5/1943 Killaire 2Q0..159 X 2,363,854 11/1944 Birenfeld 200-1 59 X 2,523,786 9/1950 Soreng.

2,748,206 5/ 1956 Andrews 2Q05 2,755,354 7/1956 Dehn et al. 74483 X 3,103,570 9/1963 Gibbs.

OTHER RFRENCES Design News, PushButton Switch, utle r-Hammar, Milwaukee, Wis., 1960, page '52.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR.,Prifnary Examiner. C. F. GREEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DUAL FUNCTION PUSH BUTTON OPERATOR COMPRISING: A BASE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A PANEL AND TO A PUSH BUTTON OPERABLE SWITCH MEANS TO BE OPERATED BY THE OPERATOR AND HAVING A FORWARD END; A PAIR OF PUSH BUTTON ACTUATORS MOUNTED IN THE BASE IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER FOR LINEAL MOVEMENT ENDWISE IN CLOSELY ADJACENT PARALLEL PATHS, EACH TO A FORWARD EXTENDED POSITION AND TO A REARWARD DEPRESSED POSITION, AND EACH HAVING A FORWARD END SURFACE ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE FINGER OF A PERSON FOR DEPRESSION THEREBY; A RIGID DIVIDER CARRIED BY THE BASE AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PATHS AND DISPOSED IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID ACTUATORS WITH ITS FORWARD END DISPOSED FORWARDLY FROM THE BASE CLOSELY ADJACENT THE POSITION ASSUMED BY THE FORWARD ENDS OF THE ACTUATORS WHEN THE ACTUATORS ARE IN THEIR EXTENDED POSITIONS, RESPECTIVELY THEREBY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL APPLICATION OF DEPRESSING FORCE ON BOTH ACTUATORS CONCURRENTLY BY A SINGLE FINGER OF A PERSON, SAID BASE HAVING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION WITH ITS AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID PATHS AND ADAPTED TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN A CIRCULAR PASSAGE THROUGH A PANEL WHEN THE BASE IS SECURED TO THE PANEL, SAID PORTION HAVING TWO PASSAGES WHICH ARE PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND WHICH ARE SEPARATED BY THE DIVIDER; A FIRST PORTION OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF EACH PASSAGE BEING ON THE DIVIDER AND EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY OF THE BASE, THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF EACH PASSAGE BEING COAXIAL WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, WHEREBY, WHEN VIEWED ENDWISE, IN THE DEPRESSING DIRECTION OF THE ACTUATORS, THE OUTER ENDS OF THE ACTUATORS, COMBINED WITH THE DIVIDER, PRESENT A CIRCULAR OUTLINE COAXIAL WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION. 